The Area

Beauty,
relaxation, history and wine! Our Tuscany trek leads you through the
mesmerising heart of the Chianti Classico wine-growing area. You will travel
from Renaissance Florence to the medieval city of Siena. Both cities are World
Heritage Sites and breathtakingly beautiful. Why not have a few extra days to
explore them? You will be walking through vineyards where the world-famous
Chianti wines are produced and you will be able to enjoy plenty of these on the
way! It is from this area alone that Chianti is able to boast its black-rooster
seal, “gallo nero”. You will also be able to indulge in the delicious food and
olive oils of the Tuscan region.

The Walking

This
easy-to-moderate trek leads you – along “strade bianche”, which are local white
or unsurfaced roads unique to the Tuscan region – through vineyards and olive
groves, along cypress-lined roads and through oak, beech and chestnut forests
alive with birdsong. Medieval hamlets teeter on hills, and offer panoramic
views of the Chianti area. You will be intrigued by roadside memorials from
classical times, deserted medieval chapels, extraordinary villas and churches,
and sleepy villages all drenched in golden Tuscan sunlight.

Luggage Transfer

Your luggage is transported for you from hotel to hotel so you can then travel with day rucksacks.

Walk Grading

Self-guided
– Easy
to Moderate due to ascents and descents on two days. Total for standard
week ignoring variations:- Ascent 2560m, Descent 2600m, 50 miles.

To view
the pricing for this holiday, please scroll down to "Pricing Details" tab below.

You
stay in 3-star hotels or, on 1 night, an agriturismo. All are small and family-owned,
chosen for their locations and friendly service. All rooms have a private
bathroom. We include dinner on two nights; on other nights there are many local
restaurants to choose from.

Day 1: Arrive in Pisa or Florence (see ‘how to get
there’ for arrival arrangements). Overnight in Florence.

Day 2: Begin in the outskirts of Florence. Pass
Renaissance villas and traditional villages, until you reach hills peppered
with cypresses, olive groves, vineyards, villas and hilltop hamlets, and later
a serene wooded valley. Overnight at
Impruneta.
Ascent 445m (+70m from centre of Florence), Descent 290m, Distance 11 ¼ miles
from centre of Florence, 9 ½ miles from the outskirts, Time 6 hours/5
hours.

Day 3: Start the day in the wide piazza at the heart
of Impruneta. Wander through beautiful vineyards and olive groves until you
descend to the small town of Ferrone. From Ferrone, follow a long gradual
ascent to the Poggio al Mandorli, then bear left for Strada in Chianti or
continue on for Chiocchio for the night. Ascent
335m, Descent 355m to Strada. Ascent 340m Descent 315m to Chiocchio. Distance 5
miles to Strada, 6 ½ miles to Chiocchio, Time 4 hours to Strada in Chianti, 5
hours to Chiocchio.

Day 4: Today you will pass the imposing gateway to
the Castillo de Mugnana before rising through forested hills to the S. Giusto
Plateau. Descend via Uzzano and its castle through sweeping vineyards to Greve
in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Greve is a popular destination and
has an intriguing arcaded main square with plenty of cafes, shops, wine bars
and museums.
Ascent 620m/495m, Descent 610m/535m, Distance 10 ½ miles from Strada in
Chianti, 1 ½ miles less from Chiocchio, Time 5 ½ hours/4 ½ hours

Day 5: A short yet spectacular circular walk – and
the epitome of Tuscany. This walk will take you to Montefioralle, which is a
gem of a “burgo” (village), perched in the hills and retaining its medieval
flavour within its ancient walls. This walk will leave you with free time to
visit the Cantina di Greve in Chianti where there are over 100 wines to be
tasted! Overnight in Greve.
Ascent 220m, Descent 220m, Distance 3 ¾
miles, Time 2 ¼ hours Overnight in Greve
in Chianti.

Day 6: After a 20-minute transfer to the mountain
village of Baddaccia Montemuro, the walk begins with a gradual descent into a
beautiful wooded valley before climbing to Volpaia, an entrancing village where
you can linger to sample the local Volpaia wine in the castle or at the
renowned local cafe. From here you can see Radda in Chianti across the valley
and a circuitous route takes you there via the church of Santa Maria Novella
and the Molino S. Cassiano. Overnight in Radda in Chianti.
Ascent 435m, Descent 600m, Distance 9 miles, Time 5 ¼
hours.

Day 7: Walking mostly on “strade bianche” and forest
roads, you will leave the vineyards and head for a broad ridge with extensive
views. Later you will climb to S. Giusto in Salci. Then on to Galenda through
vineyards and olive groves, passing the church at Poggio S. Polo before
descending into woodland. Cross a stream and then a tough climb to your
destination at Vagliagli where your transfer to Siena will be waiting.
Ascent 505m, Descent 525m, Distance 9 miles, Time 5 ¼
hours.

The trek is available from April to October. The best time to visit Tuscany is from April to June and from September to October when weather is usually good, it is not at its hottest and there are fewer tourists.

The
nearest airport is Florence, but is only accessible non-stop from London and Birmingham. Pisa
has a wider choice of flights available from many cities in the UK. From
Florence Airport there is a bus into the city, (own expense). From Pisa Airport
we provide a bus ticket to Florence. Once you arrive in Florence city, take a
short taxi journey to your hotel (not included). At the end of your trek we
provide a bus ticket to Florence City (where you take the local bus to the
airport) or we provide a bus ticket directly to Pisa Airport.